The Israeli military says it is considering ground operations into Gaza, as troops and tanks deploy along the border.

Israel's confrontation with Hamas threatened to escalate into a new war when 20 air strikes rocked the Gaza Strip, killing the radical Islamist group's military chief and nine other Palestinians.

The Israeli army said that "Operation Pillar of Defence" was designed to stop Hamas from launching rocket attacks on its territory and that "if necessary" Israel was willing to "initiate a ground operation" inside Gaza.

The air strike killed Ahmed al-Jaabari, commander of the group's military wing, and another official as they drove through Gaza City. Last night, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) posted video footage online showing the moment his car was struck as it passed along a crowded street.

Israel also bombed 19 more targets across the territory, triggering the most serious confrontation since the Gaza War of 2008-09, which claimed at least 1,200 lives.
A child of six and a baby of 11 months were among the dead, said the Gaza health ministry, adding that another 45 people were wounded.

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